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Measuring movement of an elongated instrumentRelated Patent Categories: Surgery, Means For Introducing Or Removing Material From Body For Therapeutic Purposes (e.g., Medicating, Irrigating, Aspirating, Etc.), Treating Material Introduced Into Or Removed From Body Orifice, Or Inserted Or Removed Subcutaneously Other Than By Diffusing Through Skin, Material Introduced Or Removed Through Conduit, Holder, Or Implantable Reservoir Inserted In Body, Having Structure For Controlling Depth Of Insertion Of Body PiercerMeasuring movement of an elongated instrument description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070250006, Measuring movement of an elongated instrument. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION(S) [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/784,705, filed on Mar. 22, 2006. The entire teachings of the above application are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for measuring the axial or rotational movement of an elongate instrument for use during a medical procedure. BACKGROUND [0003] Catheters, esophageal probes, endoscopes, laparoscopes and other medical instruments are frequently introduced into body lumens for a variety of purposes, including imaging and interventional therapy. For many such procedures, it is necessary to accurately monitor the position of the instrument, particularly the distal end of the instrument which is remote from the entry point. For example, it is frequently necessary to know the precise location of the distal tip of an instrument in order to perform a subsequent interventional procedure, to facilitate interchange of instruments, and to track the precise location of an instrument during the course of a single procedure. [0004] The penetration depth of elongate medical instruments has usually been monitored visually by the physician observing scale markings which have been placed on the side of the instrument. That is, the physician simply looks at the instrument at the point of entry and reads the approximate penetration depth from the scale. While this approach has the advantage of simplicity, it can suffer from limitations that restrict its effectiveness in modern medical procedures. [0005] For example, the accuracy of penetration which can be determined is limited by the lack of a fixed location against which to read the scale. The accuracy is further limited by the relatively broad spacing between scale markings which are required to permit visual reading. The visual reading of the scale further requires that the physician turn away from other areas where attention should be directed. Each reading which is obtained requires additional time to be recorded and becomes obsolete as soon as the device is moved in any fashion. SUMMARY [0006] According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is featured for measuring movement of an elongated instrument. [0007] According to a first embodiment, the apparatus includes a guide adapted to receive the elongated instrument; a rotatable element positioned to cooperate with the guide and configured to rotate in response to axial movement of the elongated instrument within the guide; and a sensor module that includes an optical image sensor arranged in relation to the guide. The optical image sensor (a) captures images of the rotatable element as the rotatable element rotates in response to movement of the elongated instrument within the guide, (b) tracks microscopic surface features of the rotatable element across a set of the captured images, and (c) generates an indication of movement of the instrument based on the tracked microscopic surface features. [0008] The apparatus can further include a counter that determines displacement of the instrument based on the indication of movement generated by the sensor module and a scaler that converts the displacement to an indication of movement in standard units. The apparatus can further include a housing comprising a disposable component and a fixed component. The disposable component includes the guide and the rotatable element, and the fixed component including the sensor module. The guide of the apparatus can further include an adjustable guide ceiling adapted to urge the elongated instrument against the rotatable element as the instrument moves within the guide. The adjustable guide ceiling can be adapted to rise or fall to accommodate instruments of varying dimensions. [0009] According to a second embodiment, the apparatus for measuring movement of an elongated instrument, includes a guide adapted to receive the elongated instrument and a sensor module that includes an optical image sensor arranged in relation to the guide. The optical image sensor (a) captures images of the elongated instrument within the guide, (b) tracks microscopic surface features of the instrument across a set of the captured images, and (c) generates an indication of movement of the instrument based on the tracked microscopic surface features. [0010] The apparatus can further include a counter that determines displacement of the instrument based on the indication of movement generated by the sensor module and a scaler that converts the displacement to an indication of movement in standard units. The apparatus can further include a housing comprising a disposable component and a fixed component. The disposable component includes the guide, and the fixed component includes the sensor module. The apparatus can further include an adjustable guide ceiling adapted to urge against the elongated instrument as the instrument moves within the guide. The adjustable guide ceiling can be adapted to rise or fall to accommodate instruments of varying dimensions. [0011] According to a third embodiment, the apparatus for measuring movement of an elongated instrument includes a guide adapted to receive an elongated instrument; a rotatable element positioned to cooperate with the guide and configured to rotate in response to a received elongated instrument moving within the guide; and a sensor module that includes an optical rotary encoder arranged to be rotatably connected to the rotatable element. The optical rotary encoder generates an indication of movement of the instrument based on sensed rotation of the rotatable element in response to the movement of the elongated instrument within the guide. [0012] The apparatus can further include a counter that determines displacement of the instrument based on the indication of movement generated by the sensor module and a scaler that converts the displacement to an indication of movement in standard units. The apparatus can further include a housing comprising a disposable component and a fixed component. The disposable component includes the guide and the rotatable element, and the fixed component includes the sensor module. The guide of the apparatus can further include an adjustable guide ceiling adapted to urge the elongated instrument against the rotatable element as the instrument moves within the guide. The adjustable guide ceiling can be adapted to rise or fall to accommodate instruments of varying dimensions. [0013] According to another embodiment, the apparatus for measuring movement of an elongated instrument, includes a housing with a disposable component and a fixed component. The disposable component includes a guide adapted to receive an elongated instrument, and the fixed component includes a sensor module adapted to sense the received elongated instrument moving within the guide and to generate an indication of movement of the instrument. [0014] According to another aspect of the invention, a method is featured for measuring movement of an elongated instrument within a guide. [0015] According to a first embodiment, the method for measuring movement of an elongated instrument within a guide involves a rotable element being positioned to cooperate with the guide such that it rotates in response to the axial movement of the elongated instrument within the guide. The method includes the steps of capturing images of the rotatable element as the rotatable element rotates in response to movement of the elongated instrument within the guide; tracking microscopic surface features of the rotatable element across a set of the captured images; and generating an indication of movement of the instrument based on the tracked microscopic surface features. [0016] According to a second embodiment, the method for measuring movement of an elongated instrument within a guide includes the steps of capturing images of the elongated instrument within the guide; tracking microscopic surface features of the elongated instrument across a set of the captured images; and generating an indication of movement of the instrument based on the tracked microscopic surface features. [0017] According to a third embodiment, the method for measuring movement of an elongated instrument within a guide involves a rotatable element being positioned to cooperate with the guide, such that the rotatable element rotates in response to the axial movement of the elongated instrument within the guide. The method includes the steps of generating an indication of movement based on sensed rotation of the rotatable element in response to movement of the elongated instrument within the guide. [0018] According to another aspect, the invention features an apparatus for measuring movement of an elongated instrument. The apparatus includes a first component including a sensor module and a second component being removably attached to the first component. The second component includes a guide adapted to receive the elongated instrument. The sensor module of the first component is arranged in relation to the guide in the second component so that the sensor module is capable of detecting movement of the elongated instrument within the guide. The second component of apparatus can be disposable, such that it can be replaced with a third component that is capable of being removably attached to the first component and includes another guide adapted to receive the elongated instrument. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0019] FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating an example of a measuring device for use during medical procedures. 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